1 M y brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment.

My Christian brothers, not many of you should become teachers. If we do wrong, it will be held against us more than other people who are not teachers.

2 F or we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

We all make many mistakes. If anyone does not make a mistake with his tongue by saying the wrong things, he is a perfect man. It shows he is able to make his body do what he wants it to do.

3 I ndeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body.

We make a horse go wherever we want it to go by a small bit in its mouth. We turn its whole body by this.

4 L ook also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

Sailing ships are driven by strong winds. But a small rudder turns a large ship whatever way the man at the wheel wants the ship to go.

5 E ven so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!

The tongue is also a small part of the body, but it can speak big things. See how a very small fire can set many trees on fire.

6 A nd the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

The tongue is a fire. It is full of wrong. It poisons the whole body. The tongue sets our whole lives on fire with a fire that comes from hell.

7 F or every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind.

Men can make all kinds of animals and birds and fish and snakes do what they want them to do.

8 B ut no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

But no man can make his tongue say what he wants it to say. It is sinful and does not rest. It is full of poison that kills.

9 W ith it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.

With our tongue we give thanks to our Father in heaven. And with our tongue we speak bad words against men who are made like God.

10 O ut of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

Giving thanks and speaking bad words come from the same mouth. My Christian brothers, this is not right!

11 D oes a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?

Does a well of water give good water and bad water from the same place?

12 C an a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom

Can a fig tree give olives or can a grape-vine give figs? A well does not give both good water and bad water. Wisdom from Above

13 W ho is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom.

Who among you is wise and understands? Let that one show from a good life by the things he does that he is wise and gentle.

14 B ut if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth.

If you have jealousy in your heart and fight to have many things, do not be proud of it. Do not lie against the truth.

15 T his wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.

This is not the kind of wisdom that comes from God. But this wisdom comes from the world and from that which is not Christian and from the devil.

16 F or where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Wherever you find jealousy and fighting, there will be trouble and every other kind of wrong-doing.

17 B ut the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure. Then it gives peace. It is gentle and willing to obey. It is full of loving-kindness and of doing good. It has no doubts and does not pretend to be something it is not.

18 N ow the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Those who plant seeds of peace will gather what is right and good.